Kolarek, Gentzler Sign Pro Contracts
6/21/2010 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 21, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland pitchers Adam Kolarek and Dan Gentzler, along with 2010 signees Chris "Cito" Culver, Tyler Vail, Patrick Leyland and JaDamion Williams all recently signed professional contracts with major league teams.
Kolarek, a lefty who completed his junior season in 2010, was an 11th-round pick of the New York Mets and has been assigned to the Kingsport Mets, New York's rookie affiliate. The Catonsville, Md., product finishes his career at Maryland with a 5-6 record and a 5.03 ERA.
Gentzler went undrafted but was signed by the Detroit Tigers and is currently with the Connecticut Tigers, Detroit's Class A short-season team in the NY/Penn league.
A Berwyn, Pa., native, Gentzler finished his career at Maryland as one of the school's best closers. His 15 career saves trail only Brett Cecil, who had 23 in his career and now pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Culver, a shortstop from West Irondequoit High School in Rochester, N.Y., was selected in the first round by the New York Yankees.
A 6-foot, 172 pound switch-hitter, Culver had a stellar prep career, batting .561 with nine home runs as a senior. He was an Under Armour All-American and played on the Yankees' Area Code team last summer, giving him the opportunity to work out at Yankee Stadium.
Vail was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the fifth round. A right-handed pitcher from Notre Dame Green Pond High School in Easton, Pa., Vail was a Rawlings/Perfect Game honorable mention preseason All-American as a senior.
The Detroit Tigers selected Leyland, who is a catcher from Bishop Canevin High School in Pittsburgh, Pa., in the eighth round. Leyland is the son of Tigers manager Jim Leyland and was ranked as the 125th-best prospect in the nation.
Williams, an infielder, was a 10th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins. The Odessa, Fla., native came out of high school ranked as the 145th-best prospect in the nation and is the son of former major leaguer Reggie Williams, who played eight seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and then-Anaheim Angels.
